In what looked like total disregard for the order by the Federal Government directing them to end their activities, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday shut down Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, as they marked 16 years of their struggle. The event was also staged in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Lagos State
The MASSOB members in their thousands held Biafra Day celebration in the three senatorial districts of Ebonyi, calling on the international community to intervene in their battle with the government.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Abakaliki, MASSOB Zonal Leader for Ebonyi North, Gideon Iloke and his Ebonyi South and Central counterparts, John Nwifuru and Moses Eze respectively said the celebration was to thank God for sustaining them in the struggle for self-determination they began in 1999.
They said the struggle for the actualisation of the sovereign state of Biafra had been tough in the face of alleged intimidation and harassment by the Federal Government. They claimed government’s opposition to Biafra had led to the death of their members.
Also, at a thanksgiving service held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish in Port Harcourt, members of the group said they were hopeful of achieving the sovereign state of Biafra.
Regional Administrator of MASSOB for Eleme region, Mr. Longinus Duruoha, said they had a reason to celebrate, because the United Nations (UN) had recognised the Bill of Rights MASSOB submitted in 2001.
Members of the group in Lagos, however, asked the Federal Government to stop harassing their leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and members of the movement.
The group warned the government not to see its non-violent approach to issues as cowardice.
Leader of MASSOB in zone B, Eze Calistus regretted that rather than security agents concentrating on defeating Boko Haram, they were busy harassing MASSOB members, whom he insisted were non-violent in their agitation for Biafra.
The Enugu East zonal chapter of the MASSOB has said the recent arrest of members and invasion of the residence of their leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike in Imo State, would not deter them from their struggle.
In a statement issued in Enugu at the weekend, MASSOB’s Director of Information for the zone, Mr. Anthony Ogbodo, condemned the recent attacks on the pro- Biafra group, which he insisted has remained peaceful in its activities.
Ogbodo said: “We are not happy with recent development, where our members were arrested, molested and the residence of our leader invaded by the police. We don’t use knives, we don’t also use guns; yet, they keep intimidating our members with security agents. Nobody can try this in the West or Northern parts of the country and we are saying that enough is enough.”
Ogbodo, however, said the movement would not be deterred in the struggle for the realisation of Biafra, warning that further attempt to intimidate or molest members would be resisted. – The Sun.
